Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in positive mood over England contingent
Saturday 6 August 2016 07:59, UK
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is not worried about any hangover his England stars might suffer at the start of the new Premier League season.
Klopp says he has not had to comfort James Milner - who announced his international retirement on Friday - Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Daniel Sturridge after England's early exit from Euro 2016 against supposed minnows Iceland.
Indeed, he wonders whether the extra break the players had might prove to be positive as they prepare for their first Premier League game against Arsenal next weekend.
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"They had three weeks' holiday and they came back pretty well recovered," said Klopp, who is preparing his side to take on Spanish giants Barcelona at Wembley on Saturday.
"Of course we spoke about the European Championship but I told them my view. When we spoke in general about English football in this tournament I thought it was really good.
"Until England left the tournament they didn't play worse than Portugal, for example, but they didn't have the time for development Portugal had.
"So it was not that I had to give them back the optimism. They came back (after) three weeks, it's how national players have to do it, and it was not that disappointing."
Klopp could use all of his England contingent against Barcelona and he also hinted there could be a chance for Lazar Markovic, who appeared to be one of the most likely Liverpool players to leave this summer.
The Serbia winger spent last season on loan with Turkish side Fenerbahce, but suffered injury problems and did not play after February.
"Everyone knows that Lazar is a very quick player but he was not at 100 per cent (in pre-season training) and there was some doubt as to how it would be," Klopp added.
"Since then he became better and better and he is in much better shape. He's a good boy and works hard. At the end we will have to see how we will build our squad.
"We have time until August 31 or maybe something will happen earlier, or something will happen on the 31st or something will never happen.
"There is no final decision in this moment. We need all these players for the games and our training sessions and he is part of it."
